Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup

Turn on the heat to medium and place the oil in a skillet.

Add the cubed beef and cook until it has a browned appearance, which should take around 5 minutes.

Once the beef is browned, mix in the garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Transfer the mixture to a slow cooker.

Add a small quantity of water to the skillet and stir to get any browned bits off the bottom of the pan. Pour the liquid and the bits into the slow cooker.

Add the remaining water, beef broth, chopped carrots, green onions, celery, barley, and parsley to the slow cooker. Put the lid on and cook on the “Low” setting until the vegetables and barley are soft, which should take between 6 to 8 hours.

Stir in the dried thyme just before serving.